Glove construction with differential expansion means



March 30, 1965 J. WEINBERG GLOVE CONSTRUCTION WITH DIFFERENTIAL EXPANSION MEANS Filed March 28, 1965 I II iw Unit States Patent F 3,175,226 GLUVE CUNSTRUC'IIQN WITH DIFFERENTIAL EXPANSION MEANS Jay Weinberg, d Grand Ave, Rockville Centre, NY. Filed Mar. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 268,619 1 Claim. (Cl. 2159) This invention relates generally to the field of resiliently expandable gloves, and more particularly to an improved form thereof in which celtain portions are more resiliently expandable than others to accommodate hands of different sizes, as well as effective enlargement of the hand upon which the glove is positioned, as when clenching the hand or grasping an object. Devices of this type are known in the art, and the invention lies in specific constructional details hereinafter set forth.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved glove construction having differential expansion means, first parts of which accornmodate for a difference in the size of the hand, and second parts of which provide for enlargement of the effective size of the back of the hand during normal movements of the user.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved glove construction having components possessing different capabilities for expansion and contraction, in accordance with expected variance in the size of different parts of the hand with movement.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved glove construction which may be of an unusually attractive appearance, and which in most cases conceals the expansive capabilities possessed thereby.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved glove construction in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, consistent with prior art constructions, thereby permitting consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the provision of elastic components possessed of different degrees of elasticity consistent with elasticity requirements at different cations over the surface of the glove.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a second view in elevation showing the side opposite that seen in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an edge elevational view, as seen from the right-hand portion of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view in perspective of the embodiment, showing the device in position upon a hand of a wearer.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view as seen from the plane 55 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view in elevation corresponding to the inside of the lower portion of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary schematic view showing the material employed in the formation of the back element which comprises a part of the device.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view in elevation corresponding to that seen in FIGURE 7, but showing substantial lateral expansion possible, as contrasted with relatively little longitudinal expansion thereof.

3,175,226 Patented Mar. 30, 1965 FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing the material from which the fourchette elements are formed.

FIGURE 10 is a similar fragmentary view in elevation showing the substantial longitudinal and transverse stretchability of the material shown in FIGURE 9.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character It), comprises broadly: a leather or relatively inelastic palm element 11, an elastic back element 12, a thumb element 13, and fourchette elements 14, i5, 16 and 17.

The palm element 11 is of conventional configuration, being bounded by a rear edge 19, an outer side edge 20, an inner side edge 21, and includes a plurality of finger wall portions 22, 23, 24 and 25. Extending through the body of the palm element 11 is a shaped. opening 26 in which the thumb element 13 is disposed. Secured t0 the inner surface 27 along points parallel to the rear edge 19 is an elastic constricting means 28,. interconnected along its length by diagonally oriented stitching 29 to produce a plurality of uniformly puckered. portions 349.

The elastic back element 12. is characterized in that it provides only transverse stretchability between inner and outer side edges. As best seen in FIGURE 2, it is bounded by a rear edge 34, an outer side edge 35, and an inner side edge 36. A plurality of finger wall portions 37, 38, 39 and 40 correspond to the portions 22 to 25, inclusive, as is well-known in the art. The elastic material from which the back element I2 is formed is preferably made in accordance with the teaching set forth in US. Patent No. 2,652,705, granted to Robert Weinberg September 22, 1953, particular reference being made to FIGURE 6 thereof. As best seen in FIGURE 2 in the instant drawing, the back element 12 includes first, second and third bands of material if, 42 and 43, respectively which are relatively inelastic, and serve to define four bands of material 44, 45, 46 and 47, respectively, which have a high degree of transverse elastic stretchability, and a relatively low degree of longitudinal stretchability, i.e. stretchability parallel to the principal axis of the fingers.

The thumb element 13 is formed using both elastic and inelastic materials, and includes a leather thumb member 48 and an elastic thumb member 49. The leather member 48 is positioned to normally overlie the lower surface of the thumb of the user, and is bounded by an edge 51 interconnected by stitch means to the palm element II, as well as a second edge 52 which interconnects the member 48 with the member 49. The member 49 is preferably formed from the same material as is employed in the formation of the back element I2, and is bounded by an edge 54 which interconnects the elastic member 4Q with the edge 52, and an edge 55 interconnected with the palm element II. As seen in FIGURES l and 4, the elastic member 49 includes a single band 56 of relative inelasticity, to provide a more uniform appearance harmonious with that of the back element 12, but this may be eliminated if desired.

The fourchette element 14 is preferably formed of knitted material, so as to have a substantial degree of stretchability in both longitudinal and transverse directions. The elements 15, I6 and 17 are also preferably formed of the same material. As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, the element 14 is bounded by a first end edge 58, a lower side edge 59, an upper side edge 60, and a second end edge 61. The element 15 is bounded by a first end edge 63, a lower side edge 64, an upper side edge 65, and a second end edge 66. The fourchette element id is bounded by a first end edge 7 an upper side edge 71, a lower side edge 72, and a second end edge 73. The element 17 is bounded by a first end edge 77, an

upper side edge 78, a lower side edge 79, and a second end edge 80.

The elements 11-17 are mutually interconnected using conventional stitch means. As illustrated in FIGURE 5, the free interconnected edges are turned inside for purposes of appearance, but, if desired, they may be turned outwardly for greater comfort. When the device is donned, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, limited difierences in the length of the fiingers of the wearer is accommodated for by the longitudinal stretch permitted by the fourchette elements 14 to 17, inclusive, particularly at the tips of the fingers. Limited variations in the diameter of the fingers of the user is accommodated by transverse stretching of the same fourchette elements, this expansion being illustrated by a comparison of FIG- URES 9 and 10 in the drawing. Excessive distention of the fourchettes is prevented by the relief of such stretching in a transverse direction only by expansion of the finger wall portions of the back element 12, which has a greater stretchability in a transverse direction per unit area than the fourchette elements. A similar adjustment takes place along the entire length of the hand, a snug lit at the wrist portion being assured by the contraction of the constricting means 28.

As the hand of the user is clenched, additional expansion of the back element 12 is required to accommodate the effective enlargement of the back of the hand disposed therebeneath, and this is accommodated for by additional expansion of the bands of elasticity 45, 46 and 47 thereof. This expansion takes place principally in the area of the knuckles of the hand, wherein transverse enlargernent is immediately accommodated, and the stretch in a longitudinal direction placed upon the finger wall portions 37-40 are accommodated by additional stretch in the corresponding fourchette elements 14-17, inclusive.

Throughout the expansion and contraction of the various elements of the glove during the wearing thereof, owing to the fact that the glove tends to expand precisely in those areas where stretch is needed, and only in {it interconnecting the various components of the glove, with consequent longer life expectancy of said stitch means, which are normally the first components of a glove to show evidence of wearing out.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

In a stretchable glove of a class described, a palm element of substantially inelastic flexible material, a back element having limited transverse elastic strctchability in a first direction, and a plurality of fourchette elements having limited elastic stretchability in each of second and third mutually perpendicular directions interconnecting said back and palm elements, said first direction being substantially perpendicular to each of said second and third directions, said fourchette elements having less transverse stretchability per unit area than the transverse stretchability of said back element per unit area; said palm element including an opening, a thumb element disposed Within said opening, said thumb element including a flexible inelastic portion of the same material as said palm element, and a flexible elastic portion connected to said inelastic portion of the same material as said back element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 402,287 4/89 Tyrrell 2159 2,309,516 1/43 Lindfelt 2-459 2,707,283 5/55 Silver et a1. 2l59 2,907,046 10/59 Scherr 2-159 3,031,680 5/62 Compiano 2-159 FOREIGN PATENTS 929,320 12/47 France.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner. 

